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Supermarkets Offer Patients Health and Wellness Hubs
The fastest growing segment of retail pharmacy, supermarket chains are a center for patient care and are offering more patient services than ever before.
Supermarkets have become the neighborhood pharmacy for many Americans. Pharmacists who choose to practice in a supermarket chain are finding that the professional services they provide their patients rival the programs available in other community pharmacy settings.
Pharmacies are now a mainstay in the supermarket industry and they are the fastest growing segment of retail pharmacy, according to the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). The number of supermarket pharmacies has grown by more than 60% over the last 10 years.
“Supermarkets have increased the number of prescriptions they fill each year for the last 4 years and we expect that trend to continue,” said Cathy Polley, RPh, vice president of health and wellness at the FMI.
Chains such as Roundy’s, which operates Pick ‘N Save, Copps, and Rainbow Foods supermarkets in the Midwest, are committed to growing their pharmacy business. Roundy’s, which has nearly 90 pharmacies across its divisions, has plans for rapid pharmacy expansion, with the goal to eventually bring a pharmacy to each of its stores. The chain says it is committed to creating pharmacies that are true community health centers staffed with knowledgeable and caring professionals.
More pharmacists are choosing to practice in a supermarket setting because of the professional services the chains are offering their patients. Supermarkets are positioning their stores as health and wellness hubs for their customers— and they are expanding the variety of services they offer to their patients. Not only are the services comparable to those found at traditional drugstores, they can often be more extensive.
Expanding Patient Care at Kroger
Supermarket pharmacists are not only filling prescriptions, they are providing counseling and medication therapy management services. The trend toward offering more patient services is expected to continue and expand. “We continue to see the growth of medication therapy management services, with supermarket pharmacies embracing this important patient service,” said FMI’s Polley.
The Kroger Company, which operates a number of chains including Kroger, Ralph’s, King Soopers, and City Market, has expanded its patient services to include a number of overall health and wellness initiatives. Kroger pharmacists routinely steer customers interested in decreasing their overall morbidity/mortality risk conferred by chronic disease to the chain’s Smoking Cessation and Fitness, Nutrition, and Weight Management programs.
“The face-to-face individualized sessions of Diabetes and Heart Healthy Coaching programs provide self-insured employers with an alternative to telephonic disease management programs, and have yielded proven results similar to the well-known Asheville project,” said Bengy Mitchell, PharmD, pharmacy coordinator at The Kroger Company.
Most recently, in 2010, several Kroger pharmacies were recognized by the American Diabetes Association for providing a quality Diabetes Self-Management Education program. Kroger pharmacies are also a contracted provider for Medicare D medication therapy management for Humana and CCRx plans.
Hy-vee Grows in Specialty Pharmacy
Pharmacists who work in supermarket settings will continue to find new ways to expand their professional experience as supermarkets look to new ways to grow their pharmacy business. Specialty pharmacy is an area that Iowa-based Hy- Vee, Inc, which operates nearly 230 supermarkets in 8 Midwestern states, has recently moved into. A growing sector of the pharmacy business, specialty pharmacy comprised 5% of total prescriptions in 2003. By 2007, that figure had doubled to 10%, and it is expected to represent 20% of total prescriptions by the end of 2011.
Hy-Vee has identified specialty pharmacy as a key area and has teamed up with Amber Pharmacy, one of the nation’s largest privately owned specialty pharmacies, to form a new company that will provide more accessible services for patients dealing with complex and chronic health conditions. The joint venture, called Hy- Vee Pharmacy Solutions, is the first of its kind in the industry.
Patients with complex health care needs, such as patients with blood disorders, cancer, Crohn’s disease, hemophilia, and hepatitis, who often must deal with different pharmacy providers in multiple locations, will be able to obtain all of their medications and services from Hy-Vee Pharmacy Solutions.
Patients will be assigned a health care team— in which pharmacists work together with an enrollment specialist and patient care coordinator— to assist with insurance and financial administration, educational materials and resources, and follow-up care. The approach provides continuity of care—a major departure from the traditional care model. And it’s available at a patient’s local supermarket.
“Hy-Vee Pharmacy Solutions builds a bridge between 2 different segments of the pharmacy business,” said Bob Egeland, vice president of pharmacy operations for the chain, when the chain introduced the new venture. “We’re bringing together experts from retail pharmacy and specialty pharmacy to offer more convenient, more personalized service for patients with complex health needs.”
For pharmacists wanting to make a real difference in their patients’ lives, the resources provided through the Pharmacy Solutions business allow them to provide face-to-face medication management services as well as diet and nutrition services, already available at Hy-Vee stores.
Linking Health and Nutrition
Although the specialty pharmacy aspect of Hy- Vee’s program is groundbreaking, tying diet and nutrition to health and wellness is far from unusual in the industry. Supermarket pharmacy departments are uniquely positioned to provide patient services that center on health and nutrition— the channel has been marrying its nutritional expertise to its pharmacy departments for some time.
Pharmacists practicing in supermarket settings have the opportunity to work with other health professionals to create a whole health environment for patients—one that is certain to produce superior outcomes.
“With more people managing chronic diseases than ever before, and given the link between diet and disease, the supermarket pharmacist has become a solution provider for customers looking to manage their total health and wellness,” said Polley. Polley said supermarket pharmacists and dieticians routinely work together on instore programs for specific disease states and patient groups that help patients shop the store more healthfully.
“Pharmacists practicing in a large supermarket chain have the opportunity to educate patient beyond providing information about their prescription and over-the-counter medications,” explained Dr. Mitchell. “In the supermarket setting, pharmacists have hands-on resources available to counsel on therapeutic lifestyle recommendations, most notably, nutrition recommendations that will help patients reach their health goals,” he said.
“A patient filling a cholesterol medication may have questions about diet recommendations given by their physician—limiting saturated fats, adding plant sterols—and our pharmacists can go into the aisles with the patients to show them examples of foods that would meet these criteria, or how to interpret the nutrition label—reinforcing the recommendation of both the guidelines and their physician,” noted Dr. Mitchell.
Dr. Mitchell explained that Kroger pharmacists work with dietitians to provide grocery store tours as part of the chain’s Diabetes Self Management Education program and Fitness, Nutrition, and Weight Management program. The tours, which would likely not be practical in other settings, provide an opportunity to work collaboratively with other health care providers and allow patients to get very specific, personal answers to questions about their diet and nutritional needs.
Kroger’s new initiative, HealthMatters at Kroger, explicitly connects nutrition and health within the chain’s stores to combat the obesity epidemic by helping customers make informed decisions about the products they buy. Launched in the Lexington market in 2010, the program includes Nuval Nutrition scoring of products, input from in-store dietitians, educational pharmacy health stations, and monthly health/wellness events.
Hy-Vee recently launched Begin, a healthy lifestyle and weight management program that helps patients make informed diet choices. During private or group consultations in the 10-week in-store program, participants can work with instore registered dietitians to learn how to make healthy diet and lifestyle choices.
Rivaling Drug Chains in Public Outreach
Pharmacists practicing at supermarket chains are offering many of the same patient services offered at drug chains and community pharmacies across the country. Screenings, vaccinations, and discounted or free medication programs are just a few of the programs supermarket chains are providing today. For example, Kroger, which offers vaccinations at most locations, provides more than 1 million vaccinations annually. In fact, the chain was awarded the 2010 Immunization Champion Award from the American Pharmacists Association. Biometric screenings (total lipid panel, glucose, blood pressure, weight/ body mass index) are another key part of the chain’s offerings and are available at select locations and for contracted employer clients. Several divisions of Kroger also offer screenings for other conditions such as osteoporosis, depression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and peripheral arterial disease, among others.
In addition to providing pharmacy services, a number of chains have added in-store health clinics, which are staffed with nurse practitioners or physician assistants who can diagnose common illnesses and minor injuries and prescribe medication for treatment when necessary.
Supermarkets have also been aggressive on the patient outreach front, offering discounted or free medications for their patients in need. Florida-based Publix, for example, offers a 14-day supply of many commonly prescribed generic oral antibiotics to its customers for free—regardless of the patient’s prescription insurance provider or the number of prescriptions the customer needs filled. %u25CF
Ms. Sax is a freelance writer based in Chevy Chase, Maryland.


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Escape the Minneapolis Convention Center crowd, avoid your downtown parking nightmares, and instead, check out Southwest Journal‘s 14th Annual Home Improvement Fair—complete with ample parking, personal space, and more than three dozen home experts to tackle your ultimate homeowner “to-do” list.
The 2019 event will be hosted at Burroughs Elementary School in the Lynnhurst neighborhood of Minneapolis, and will feature some of the Twin Cities’ best remodelers, plumbers, painters, masons, landscapers, electricians, arborists, and more.
Exhibitors include Hanson Remodeling, a Minneapolis-based home building and remodeling firm that specializes in a little bit of everything. Dan Hanson and his team of professional carpenters and designers will take on your biggest (or smallest) projects year-round. From basements to backyards to bathrooms and more, Hanson Remodeling’s full-service firm has you covered from start to finish.
Perks include free admission, free coffee and treats, kids’ activities, and free presentations, including one hosted by PUUSTELLI USA, a national leader in Scandinavian kitchen cabinetry and design solutions. The presentation explores before-and-after case studies, the future of cabinetry, and several sleek, mod designs. While you’re there, ask about Miinus—their eco-friendly, sustainable kitchen cabinetry system with minimal ecological impact.
Check it out this weekend on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Burroughs Elementary School, 1601 W. 50th St., Minneapolis. Learn more here.
More happenings in the Twin Cities metro this week:
Haupt Antiek Market
Four days each month, Haupt Antiek Market comes to life with a unique theme, and this March, shoppers will experience a vintage “General Store.” Sift through antique items like old hardware, store counters, mannequins, grain sacks, and more. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. @ 7570 W. 147th St., Apple Valley, hauptantiek.com
Intro to Kumiko Wood Working
Want to incorporate a slice of Japanese flair to your space? With instructor Vince Wood, construct your own Kumiko—an ancient Japanese wood project. Take your pick between two designs: the asa-no-ha or the izutsu-tsunagi pattern. Thursday, 6-8 p.m. @ Twin Cities Maker, 3119 E. 26th St., Minneapolis, facebook.com
Bloom Away! Solo Exhibition by Annie Young
Blind artist Annie Young showcases her memories of the flower gardens she loved to tend and photograph before she lost her sight. With the anticipated arrival of spring around the corner, her acrylic paintings spark a feeling of excitement, joy, and warmth through color, texture, and light. Saturday, 7-9 p.m. @ Frameworks Gallery, 2022 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, facebook.com

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South Korea’s Samsung BioLogics reported a 56% jump in sales to $420 million (KRW 459.8 billion) for 2017, which the company attributes to boosts from two of its manufacturing facilities.
The company said productivity of its Plant 1 improved while production volume at its Plant 2 facility increased, bolstering Samsung Biologics’ overall rate of operations.
The company also noted that costs related to the opening of its $740 million Plant 3 in Songdo last November will be reflected in 2018 financials.
The good news on the financial front comes in the wake of the company downplaying reports that it would build a fourth plant. Those reports sent its shares soaring last month after it was reported that Samsung BioLogics CEO Kim Tae-han, Ph.D., mentioned the possibility of a fourth plant in an interview during an industry conference. In playing down the remarks, the company said a fourth plant would depend on the success of clinical trials that clients Roche and Biogen are conducting on Alzheimer's drugs that are not expected to be complete until 2019.
In its third-quarter earnings report in October, Samsung BioLogics announced an operating profit for the first time. It said third-quarter operating profit was $18.2 million (KRW 20.5 billion) on $113.4 million (KRW 127.5 billion) in revenues.
The company embarked on a massive expansion seven years ago to become the world’s biggest biologics contract manufacturer that reached a capacity of 362,000 liters when Plant 3 opened. With that opening, the company now has more than 2,000 employees.


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Robert Friedman stood on the main floor of Loehmann's new 35,000-square-foot store on Broadway between 73rd and 74th Streets, pointing to racks of contemporary brands such as Theory, Laundry, James Perse and Vince.
NEW YORK — Robert Friedman stood on the main floor of Loehmann's new 35,000-square-foot store on Broadway between 73rd and 74th Streets, pointing to racks of contemporary brands such as Theory, Laundry, James Perse and Vince.
"The contemporary, junior and casual business has been our fastest-growing area for the last five years," the Loehmann's chief executive officer said.
This marks a change for the off-pricer, whose average customer a decade ago was 55 years old. In the last five years Loehmann's has made a concerted effort to attract younger consumers. "Today the average age is 35," said Friedman, who's been at the helm of the company for 15 years along with Robert Glass, president and chief operating officer.
The Broadway store, which had a soft opening this week and officially makes its debut on Wednesday, is expected to do $20 million to $25 million in annual sales. Loehmann's stores do an average of $340 a square foot in sales, Friedman said, noting the range is $250 a square foot to $650 a square foot.
The privately held Loehmann's, which operates 62 stores in the U.S., is projected to do $540 million in sales in 2007, according to industry sources.
The company's second unit in Manhattan, the Broadway location is targeted to an affluent customer with an annual household income of $100,000 and higher. In addition to contemporary clothing, the store emphasizes juniors, casual, jeans and dresses. A small children's department with sizes up to 6X is being introduced as well. There's a more serious approach to jewelry, with resources such as Pianegonda, Scott Kay, Lagos and Robert Lee Morris. The handbag selection includes styles by Tod's, Ferré and Rado. A Michael Kors leather shoulder bag was priced at $259; a Missoni medium-sized leather bag, $189.
"We hired a full-time jewelry buyer and we're going after this business," Friedman said. "We see tremendous opportunity in accessories, handbags, intimate apparel and continued growth in the Back Room."
The Back Room, described as "legendary" on the off-pricer's Web site, dates from the Twenties, when Loehmann's was founded on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, and is where designer names are found. Narciso Rodriguez was represented with two rounders at the Broadway store and there were single rounders of Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Burberry, Gucci and Blumarine. "It's the most important differentiation for us," Friedman said of the Back Room. "It's the epitome of name recognition and price. We try to mirror the labels at Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom."Merchandise sold in the Back Room is a combination of current and last season, Friedman said. "The best value we can offer is merchandise we bought at the end of the vendor season and packed away," he added. "These labels can't be current goods. If they were, the manufacturers would lose credibility with their full-price retail accounts."
Discounts storewide range from 35 to 65 percent. Loehmann's has no trouble finding designer apparel or other categories. The company makes opportunistic buys, such as when a manufacturer puts a style into production before having fully sold it. "We do a lot of business in Italy directly with manufacturers," Friedman said. "We have two people working full-time for us in Milan and Florence."
Shoes account for 10 percent of total sales. Dresses have been strong, with styles by Nicole Miller, Tadashi and Sue Wong. There is career clothing from Tahari/Arthur S. Levine, Michael Kors and Perry Ellis.
The Broadway unit, along with a handful of other Loehmann's, employs a personal shopper. "We're one of the only off-pricers that offers this kind of service," Friedman said. And while some off-pricers have avoided selling online, Loehmann's plans to launch a transactional Web site next year. "We see it as a major opportunity," Friedman said. "By 2010 we'd like it to be 10 percent of our total business."
Loehmann's, which is in an expansion mode, will open seven stores this year. In addition to the Broadway venue, a 25,000-square-foot unit was unveiled last week on Route 17 in Paramus, N.J., the company's third store there. Loehmann's is opening in Miami this spring and on State Street in Chicago in the fall.
"We're looking for other sites in Manhattan," Friedman said. "We'd like to open stores downtown and on the Upper East Side. We need creative real estate solutions. We need some ground floor space and lower or upper level. Rents continue to climb in the city. That's why we only have two stores here."
Nine stores are planned for 2008, including a unit in Los Angeles and two in suburban Chicago. The company is looking for sites in Scottsdale and Chandler, Ariz."We're not looking to have 200 stores," Friedman said. "We want to preserve the business model of opening in affluent and densely populated areas. We may top out at 100 or 120 stores. If we open more, we'll look like the other guys and then we lose our edge. Ours is a niche business and we want to stay a niche business."
Harrods plans to remove the famous statue of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed from the bottom of the Egyptian escalators and hand it back to Mohamed Al-Fayed. “We are very proud to have played our role in celebrating the lives of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed at Harrods and to have welcomed people from around the world to visit the memorial for the past 20 years,” said Michael Ward, Harrods managing director. “With the announcement of the new official memorial statue to Diana, Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace, we feel that the time is right to return this memorial to Mr. Al Fayed and for the public to be invited to pay their respects at the palace.” More on the news, with reporting by @loreleimarfil, at WWD.com. #wwdnews
@prada is introducing a new project at its men’s fall 2018 show this Sunday: “Prada Invites.” The fashion house invited four celebrated creative minds – @ronanaerwanbouroullec, Konstantin Grcic, @herzogdemeuron and @rem.koolhaas – to each create a unique item with its iconic nylon material. The designs will be unveiled on the runway show, which will take place at the company’s warehouse in Viale Ortles 25. #wwdfashion #mfwm (📷: @martinocarrera)
@kering_official is spinning off its stake in puma in an effort to focus on its luxury brands, the brand operator announced yesterday. “We are proud to have supported the turnaround of Puma, which now has unrivaled capabilities to take full advantage of the specific dynamics of its global markets and is poised to achieve substantial growth,” said François-Henri Pinault, Kering’s chief executive officer and chairman. Artémis will become a “long-term strategic shareholder” of Puma with a 29 percent stake. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
The fashion world mourns for celebrated street style photographer, Nabile Quenum, who died at age 32 in Paris.
Quenum, creator of the fashion blog “J’ai Perdu Ma Veste,” was a fashion week fixture, and regularly shot for New York magazine’s The Cut, among other outlets, and brands such as Louis Vuitton, Moncler and Adidas. He was also actively involved in the #NoFreePhotos initiative, which kicked off in the fall. Read more about Quenum in @kbsmoke's story on WWD.com. #wwdnews
@verwanggang and @maisonladuree have teamed up on a dessert collab called Vera Wang Pour Ladurée. The collection, which launched this week, features a specialty macaroon, as well as a wedding cake inspired by one of the designer’s gowns. “I could not imagine a more delicate or sophisticated creation to grace any couple’s celebration,” said Wang. #wwdfashion


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BrickYard Pizzeria and Burger Bar Opening in Woburn
A new restaurant features two floors of dining and drinking is coming to Woburn, and it looks like it will be focusing on pizza and burgers.
According to their Facebook page, the BrickYard is planning to open on Main Street in Woburn Center (across from the rotary) in early May. Based on the sign shown out front, the new eatery will be a combination pizzeria/burger bar. It is not known at this time what else might be on the menu at the BrickYard; as soon as we get a peek at the menu, we will post an update here.
[April 25 update: According to The Woburn Patch, the BrickYard will be serving appetizers and small plates in addition to pizza and burgers, and it will also have 20 different beers available. The Patch article, which mentions a May 3 opening for the restaurant, states that the eatery will have a dining area on the first floor with views of a plaza and waterfall, and the basement will have a spacious lounge. The article also mentions that one of the partners of the BrickYard is the owner of the nearby Tre Monte restaurant.]
[May 8 update: According to their Facebook page, BrickYard Pizzeria and Burger Bar will be opening on Monday, May 9.]
The address for this new restaurant in Woburn Center is: BrickYard Pizzeria and Burger Bar, 371 Main Street, Woburn, MA, 01801. Their Facebook page can be found at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-BrickYard-Authentic-Pizzeria-and-Burger-Bar/100233750065724
Thanks to both The Passionate Foodie and a poster on Chowhound for bringing this to our attention.


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The basic cost of our 2.0-litre BITDI 4Motion model is £39,955 – an almost exact match for a 420d xDrive Sport Gran Coupé with BMW’s superb automatic gearbox.
That car’s 187bhp is easily outgunned by the Arteon’s 237bhp, though – and an equivalent 3.0-litre 430d is another £5000.
The VW will also suffer greater depreciation than the Audi. After three years, the Arteon is predicted to lose 58 percent of its original value compared with 52 percent for the 3.0-litre A5 Sportback.
That said, buy the Arteon in the trim VW expects you to – R-line with the 148bhp 2.0-litre TDI and seven-speed DSG gearbox – and you’ll get a handsome car with class-leading space and the latest in-car tech, not to mention a low first-year tax of £160, thanks to its 116g/km CO2.


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With all the talk lately about removing the pedestrian plazas in Times Square, let's not forget that the square was a very unsafe place for tourists, locals and cars not that long ago.
In this video from 2006, watch as Danish architect and public space expert Jan Gehl discusses some of the problems surrounding Times Square before the plazas were created.
“When we talk about the conditions for pedestrians here, it’s really lousy,” Gehl said. “Thousands of people are literally pushed into the street because it’s so congested on the sidewalk,” Gorton added. “It’s beyond unpleasant. It’s unsafe and it drives people away from this neighborhood.”
via Streets Blog
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The legend of Robin Hood is that of a heroic outlaw who steals from the rich to give to the poor, while fighting and evading the evil sheriff of Nottingham. As a brand image inspiration, you could do much worse.
There are enough ins, outs, and what-have-yous surrounding this situation to require multiple explainers, but from a marketing and brand point of view, this has been an absolute unmitigated disaster for Robinhood. High profile people are echoing the angry voices of the company’s everyday customers, all calling the brand out for abandoning its principles. On Thursday, a class action lawsuit was filed claiming Robinhood rigged the market.
And even giving the company the benefit of the doubt that it was restricting trading due to its own liquidity issues because of the surge, Robinhood’s complete lack of transparency and failure to communicate the reason behind the halt has further angered its customers.
Back in 2017, Robinhood cofounder Baiju Bhatt spoke to Fast Company about the role that brand image plays in how young people want to invest their money. A Tesla driver wants to buy Tesla stock. A Budweiser drinker wants to buy A-B InBev stock. An Apple fan wants Apple stock. “People care about these companies,” said Bhatt. “It’s the millennial version of the baby boomer mantra, ‘Buy what you know.’”
Robinhood was an investing tool that spoke to young people in their own language, that of social media and mobile gaming, combined with no transaction fees or account minimums. And it worked: 32% of app visitors are between the ages of 25–34, while half of the reported 3 million new accounts in Q1 2020 were first-time traders. According to a New York Times analysis in July, Robinhood users trade at vastly higher volumes than their counterparts on E-Trade and Charles Schwab.
Of course that came with a dark side. In June 2020, 20-year-old Alexander Kearns committed suicide after mistakenly believing he was down $730,000 after trading options on Robinhood. Critics have been ringing alarm bells over the past year about how the app’s gamification takes all the dangers of social media addiction and adds gambling to the mix. NYU prof Scott Galloway made “Robinhood is the new menace” one of his predictions for 2021. It’s only January!
Just as Bhatt said, people care about companies. A brand is commonly defined as the story a company tells us about itself. But that’s evolved in the 21st century to become the yin and yang between a company’s self-image and its public perception. The closer the two are, the stronger the brand image. And right now, for many of its most ardent fans, Robinhood has decimated that image by going back on its initial promise to even the playing field for the little people. Instead, the little people are realizing that they’re the product, not the customer. Put another way, to the folks in Sherwood Forest, the outlaw is looking a whole lot like just another sheriff.


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Virginia Sole-Smith, who is associated with Planet Green, says food manufacturers use about 15 million pounds of eight synthetic dyes, which end up in our food each year. In fact, per capita consumption of food dyes has increased fivefold since 1955, thanks mostly to 'fun' colors in breakfast cereals, fruit drinks and candies. A new report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest says that synthetic food dyes pose risks of cancer, hyperactivity in children and allergies. The top offenders include: Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, which are all contaminated with known carcinogens, says the CSPI. Red 3, which the Food and Drug Administration has banned for use in drugs and cosmetics, remains in our food supply, with 200,000 pounds per year in goods like Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-Ups and ConAgra Kid Cuisine frozen meals. Then, there is Blue 1, Red 40, and Yellow 6, which can cause rare but serious allergic reactions in some people. According to CSPI executive director, Michael F. Jacobson, these synthetics do absolutely nothing to improve the nutritional quality or safety of our foods, but often trigger behavior problems in children, and very likely, cancer in others.
If the health of your children is important to you, please click on my headline to read the entire story!


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U.S. beef exports for the week of July 11-17 totaled 14,600 metric tons (mt), up 3 percent from the previous four-week average. Primary destinations were Japan (4,800 mt, +2 percent), South Korea (2,300 mt, +11 percent), Mexico (2,100 mt, +1 percent), Hong Kong (1,800 mt, -13 percent), Canada (1,600 mt, +10 percent) and Taiwan (1,040 mt, +35 percent).
Beef net sales were 10,800 mt, down 13 percent from the previous four-week average and mainly reported for Japan (3,100 mt, -14 percent), Mexico (2,600 mt, +23 percent), Canada (1,800 mt, +90 percent), Korea (1,500 mt, -27 percent), Hong Kong (600 mt, -72 percent) and Taiwan (420 mt, -38 percent).
As USMEF has previously noted, weekly export sales data is not accurately reflecting actual pork exports or pork net sales. While we will continue to report the weekly data, readers should be mindful of our cautionary notes about its accuracy. Export sales reporting for pork became mandatory in April 2013, so hopefully the quality of the data will improve over time. Separately, packers are also reporting export sales data to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) through Mandatory Price Reporting (see chart).
AMS has been reporting this data since January, but it does not include Canada and Mexico (which are counted as domestic sales) and the data does not specify destination countries. Last week’s AMS data showed export sales for primals at 5,431 mt, up 27 percent from the previous four-week average.
U.S. pork exports for the week of July 11-17 totaled 10,100 mt, up 13 percent from the previous four-week average. Results in major destinations included Mexico (3,200 mt, -8 percent), Japan (1,500 mt, +4 percent), Canada (1,100 mt, -6 percent), the Philippines (700 mt, +130 percent), Hong Kong (600 mt, +23 percent), Korea (270 mt, -29 percent) and China (220 mt, -47 percent).
Pork net sales totaled 4,300 mt, down 59 percent from the previous four-week average, including Japan (1,400 mt, -10 percent), Mexico (600 mt, -87 percent), Korea (600 mt, +26 percent), Hong Kong (500 mt, -54 percent), China (220 mt, -45 percent) and the Philippines (140 mt, -60 percent). Due to adjustments or cancellations, negative net sales were reported for Canada (-100 mt).


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New Sunshine is happy to announce its Meet Up with Khloé Kardashian contest! Salons can compete to win an all-inclusive trip for two to meet Khloé Kardashian at an upcoming appearance in Los Angeles.
Three randomly selected salons will ultimately win the grand prize which includes two VIP passes to meet Khloé, an all-expense paid trip for two to L.A., a tweet from the Kardashians congratulating the winning salons, four autographed bottles of Kardashian Glow and much more!
To enter, each salon can email or mail in their entry form along with point of sale data for all Kardashian Glow bottles sold between March 15, 2013 and April 15, 2013. Each bottle is worth a different number of entries, based on the cost of each lotion. Deadline for entries and POS data is 11:59 p.m. on April 22, 2013. Once all entries have been received, a drawing will be held to pick the winning salons. The more you sell the more chances to win!
Contact New Sunshine Customer Service with any questions at (888) 865-5108 or at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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-- Gearing up for the start of the school year, more than a dozen states are offering tax-free shopping for parents and their kids.
There are 17 states holding sales tax holidays this year, and 13 begin theirs this weekend to appeal to the back-to-school crowd.
Shoppers should check for tax-free spending limitations in their state. In Missouri, there's a list of dozens of cities and counties that are choosing not to provide sales tax exemptions on back-to-school purchases like clothing, computers and school supplies. Florida's sale will last more than one week, starting Friday and running through Sunday, Aug. 16.
The tax-free holiday can be an opportunity to save 6 to 9 percent, depending on your state, on back-to-school purchases you would be making anyway, Kyle James, founder of Rather-Be-Shopping.com, told ABC News.
"Keep in mind that your biggest savings are going to be on tech needs like laptops, desktops and tablets," James said.
For example, New Mexico gives you tax breaks on clothing up to $100, computers up to $1,000, computer accessories up to $500 and school supplies up to $30.
"It’s pretty easy to spend $30 on school supplies making the savings fairly negligible, but when buying clothes and computers, it’s a great weekend to buy and save some money," James said.
Regina Conway, consumer expert with Slickdeals, told ABC News it's important to make a list before you shop and to do your research online.
"In some cases, the tax savings may not outweigh the deals you can find during other store promotions," she said. "Pick the essential items that your child will need and do a price search for those items before you head to the store. When in store, do a quick search on your mobile phone before making the purchase to confirm that you're getting the best deal."
Retailers and other states that aren't participating in the holiday are trying to compete with sellers across state borders. The New York State Tax Department issued a reminder to parents and college students Tuesday that "Every Day is a New York Sales Tax Holiday," because clothing and footwear sold for less than $110 is always exempt from the state's 4 percent sales tax.
Here's where you can find more information about some of the upcoming sales tax holidays:
1. Alabama (12:01 a.m. to Sunday)
2. Florida (Friday through Sunday, Aug. 16)
3. Iowa (Friday and Saturday)
4. Louisiana (Friday and Saturday)
5. Maryland (Sunday through Saturday, Aug. 15)
6. Missouri (12:01 a.m. Friday through Sunday)
7. New Mexico (12:01 a.m. Friday through Sunday)
8. Ohio (12:01 a.m. Friday through Sunday)
9. Oklahoma (12:01 a.m. Friday through Sunday)
10. South Carolina (12:01 a.m. Friday through Sunday)
11. Tennessee (12:01 a.m. Friday through Sunday)
12. Texas (Friday through Sunday)
13. Virginia (Friday through Sunday)


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The Mazda BT-50 range has been expanded to 22 models with the addition of a new automatic variant.
Priced from $48,890, the Mazda BT-50 4x4 Freestyle Cab Utility XTR is now available with a six-speed automatic transmission after initially being launched exclusively as a manual for $46,890.
Mazda says the decision to add an automatic alternative for the 4x4 Freestyle Cab Utility XTR was in direct response to customer demand.announced in February
Front, side and curtain airbags also come as standard as does a locking rear differential, anti-lock brakes, stability control, hill descent control and hill start assist.
With 10,556 units sold in total in 2013, the BT-50 is currently the sixth best-selling ute in Australia behind the Toyota HiLux (29,917), Nissan Navara (18,726), Mitsubishi Triton (17,952), Ford Ranger (16,070) and Holden Colorado (12,896).


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PHOTO: Amadeus Silver, here sailing on the Danube, will be features on Amras' river cruise offerings. (courtesy of Amras Cruises)
Amras Cruises, a new Boston-based company representing river cruise products, made its debut this past week offering 16 European river cruise departures for North American travelers on Amadeus by Luftner Cruises' vessels.
The new venture represents the most recent effort by a European-based river cruise company to cater specifically to customers in the U.S. AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Tauck, Viking Cruises and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, all based in the U.S., currently dominate the U.S. market for European river cruises here.
But other European-based river cruise companies have begun targeting U.S. customers over the past three years, including A-Rosa and CroisiEurope. Scenic Cruises, an Australian company offering European river cruises, also is now making a major effort to attract North American guests as well.
This also is not the first time that Amadeus has targeted U.S. customers. In November 2012 Amadeus was the first client for Optriant, a company set up by Preferred Hospitality Group to represent non-hotel travel products and destinations.
Dr. Wolfgang Luftner, Amadeus' founder and president, said his company has now ended its affiliation with Optriant in favor of its new deal with Amras. Amadeus has a fleet of 11 river ships with another vessel set to debut this April.
Amras will begin this year by offering two Amadeus departures: "2014 Christmas Markets on the Rhine" and "2014 Christmas Markets on the Danube." But in 2015 it will expand its inventory with 16 customizable itineraries on European rivers.
Amras is marketing Amadeus' river cruise product by highlighting its crews trained in traditional Austrian hospitality, known as Gemütlichkeit, as well as customizable options.
"We recognize that the river cruise industry has become very cookie cutter and that there is definitely demand for a more customizable travel experience," said Rudi Joham, Amras' president and managing director. "When traveling with us, our guests will have more opportunities to explore, either independently or part of an escorted group, or to combine multiple itineraries."
"The Amras philosophy is to include as much as possible into the cruise and land price, so an Amras traveler can travel worry free," Joham added. "There's no need to think about gratuities, or which shore excursion to buy, or whether or not to have that afternoon Viennese coffee. It's all included. At your service."
For 2015 Amras will offer Amadeus cruises on the Seine, Saone, Rhone, Moselle, Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Many of the sailings will be on the Amadeus Silver, recently named the "2013 River Ship of the Year" by Germany's Kreuzfahrtguide.
Amras also will offer cruises on the Amadeus Silver II, a sister ship set to debut in April, which will travel through Holland and Belgium and down the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.
Topics From This Article to Explore


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Airtel 5G Plus has been launched in India and these are the smartphones that can support it. Here are all the details.
Airtel 5G is already available in India and if you as a subscriber want to access the faster 5G speeds in the available cities, you must have a compatible smartphone to access it. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Unfortunately not. Although 5G is a common thing on 5G smartphones these days, it is not so easy to run 5G on any smartphone. Although the hardware may support 5G, it is up to smartphone manufacturers to enable 5G reception on your device through software.
That’s why despite buying iPhone 14 now which is Apple’s latest smartphone, you won’t be able to access 5G connectivity on it. If you’re wondering why you can’t see 5G on your phone yet, you have to be patient and wait for your device manufacturer to enable it.
Below are some of the popular devices that support Airtel’s 5G network or are not yet ready.
Airtel 5G Plus support on popular devices
When it comes to 5G support, no phone covers it as well as the iPhone. 5G is supported by default on the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14 and iPhone SE 3rd generation series. However, Apple has yet to release a software patch that enables 5G reception. Airtel says it will happen soon.
When it comes to Samsung Galaxy devices, only a handful of phones support it. From now on, Airtel 5G is supported on Galaxy S22, Galaxy S21 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy A53 5G, Galaxy A33 5G and Galaxy M33 series. All other 5G phones will require a software update from Samsung.
All iQOO devices in India can run Airtel’s 5G network, directly from the iQOO 3 5G (the very first iQOO phone in India in 2020).
All Xiaomi devices in India support 5G. So Airtel customers on Xiaomi 5G handsets can now achieve 5G speeds, starting with the Xiaomi Mi 10 5G.
All Oppo 5G smartphones in India support 5G reception. So, Airtel customers can access 5G through Oppo’s 5G handsets right now.
All Vivo handsets, ranging from the budget Y series to the flagship X60 series, currently support Airtel’s 5G connectivity.
Realme has also enabled 5G reception for all of its 5G-enabled smartphones at all price points.
Where can you get Airtel 5G right now?
Airtel 5G can be experienced right now in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Siliguri and Varanasi. More Indian cities are expected to be added to 5G coverage over the coming months.
What are the 5G prices?
At the moment, Airtel 5G is available for Airtel 4G LTE customers at no additional cost. However, when a reliable rollout occurs in all major cities, users might pay more for faster speeds.


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This Week in Martech:
Optimove Raises $75M. T-Mobile Acquires Octopus Interactive. Yahoo Announces a New Partnership With Mikmak. AskNicely Raises $32M. Tech Mahindra Buys Allyis India and Green Investments for $125M. Constant Contact Acquires Vision6.
Optimove Raises $75M
CRM start-up Optimove has announced a $75M investment round, led by Summit Partners. This round overshadows their funding in the past, which has totalled $20M in the last decade.
The company aims to use this cash to finance their continued investment in strategic hiring and M&A, as well as the expansion of their platform's capabilities.
T-Mobile Acquires Octopus Interactive
The ad platform and data unit of T-Mobile has acquired Octopus Interactive, a rideshare-focused advertising start-up, which installs a tablet in the backs of cabs so riders can play games, watch content, and see ads.
“The focus for us is around the first-party data and how we create scale and expansion for that,” said Mike Peralta, T-Mobile’s VP of Marketing Solutions.
Yahoo Announces a New Partnership With Mikmak
Yahoo has announced a new integration with e-commerce platform Mikmak. This partnership will deliver add-to-cart functionality and e-commerce analytics for campaigns for Yahoo's native ads and display inventory.
AskNicely Raises $32M
Customer experience software company AskNicely has completed a Series B funding round, raising $32M. The round was led by Five Elms Capital, with participation from Nexus Venture Partners and Blackbird Ventures.
The round will help the company develop their customer experience software further. According to CEO Aaron Ward:
"It’s kind of outrageous that the class of worker that’s most impactful on the customer experience is also the most under-served, under-paid, and under-appreciated. We’ve designed AskNicely for the frontline worker and made it our mission to make frontline work awesome.”
Tech Mahindra Buys Allyis India and Green Investments for $125M
Tech Mahindra has approved a proposal for the acquisition of IT services provider Allyus India, and Green Investments, totalling $125M.
The move will aid in Tech Mahindra's capabilities in digital experience solutions.
Constant Contact Acquires Vision6
Constant Contact, a digital marketing platform, has acquired SMS and email marketing company Vision6.
This move is expected to grow Constant Contacts presence in Australia, and offer their customers comprehensive digital marketing.
MarTech News Round-up – over and out.
Have you got some martech news you think we should be shouting about? Let us know at email@example.com for a chance to be featured.


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In a new study by BlockData, Google’s parent company finished first among 100 companies on the stock market that most invested in Blockchain – the very essence of cryptocurrencies. The figures are based on the period from September 2021 to June 2022. In ten months, Google invested $1.5 billion. Following the ranking are BlackRock, Morgan Stanley and Samsung.
Only the first three in the ranking have spent more than a billion dollars over the period. The funds did not go into the same projects while Morgan Stanley, BlackRock and Alphabet do not follow the same strategies. For the investor leader, his four main foals are Fireblocks, Drapper Labs, Voltage and Digital Currency Group.
BlackRock is more classic with investments in FTX, Circle and Anchorage Digital. A very targeted portfolio, which denotes with that of Samsung much more diversified. In all, the $979 million South Korean giant has bet on 13 startups.
Note, among them, the presence of Animoca Brands, which manages the platform Metavers The Sandbox. Google, over the previous period, had invested far less (600 million dollars) but further diversified its portfolio with more than 40 projects concerned.
Famous crypto investment funds are not included in the ranking. Indeed, BlockData’s figures here focus on listed companies. Thereby, the Andreessen Horowitz fund (A16z) is not affected. He who, let’s remember, bets on a large scale on the Web3 and was one of the first to invest in platforms like Coinbase.
For this fund as for many proponents of web3, the blockchain will mainly bring the economy on the Internet a way to more strongly protect systems and data, as well as open the door to digital property. We can already see this with NFTs and projects such as Sorare.
Investment in the Blockchain also reflects the different categories of the most popular projects. There are of course companies working on new infrastructures, but also companies doing Blockchain-as-a-Service, to democratize the use of Blockchain and its application to many programs, with rapid development.
Companies that create crypto storage solutions are also mentioned in the study, although in the top 10 present here, we cannot see companies like the French Ledger. Talos, a specialized crypto-currency exchange platform for institutions, has also been approached by many of the top 10 companies cited here. BNY Mellon, PayPal and Citi Bank have invested in it.


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A bombshell has just dropped, as Square Enix just sold its entire Western division for only $300M. With one single sale, the Japanese developer has sold every Western company under their umbrella alongside the many IPs that they work on. Yet, it also opens up the question of what exactly this means for the future of the Marvel games that are being developed by some of their studios.
Initially, the deal made between Square Enix and Marvel would include four games. Two of those released in the form of Crystal Dynamics’ first venture into Games-as-a-Service with Marvel’s Avengers and the story-focused Guardians of the Galaxy by Eidos. During the press conference on the purchase, a statement was made on if the development of Marvel games would continue.
All games that have been developed by the studios are included in the deal. However, a number of external approvals are needed from external parties to close this transaction. And potentially, licenses as mentioned here could be one of those approvals needed.Lars Wingefors
So, if Marvel or Disney decides not to renew the license, the games would potentially find their end. This news hits especially hard for Crystal Dynamics, which has been quite dedicated to making Marvel’s Avengers work as a service game. after its critical success, there was also a lot of hope that Guardians of the Galaxy would get a sequel. Yet, if they do not renew their deal with the new Embracer Group, it sadly could spell the end of these ventures once the deal is finalized.


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Today, Adobe is rolling out an update to both Flash Player (11.4) and AIR (3.4); both updates are designed to better provide developers the ability to utilize hardware acceleration. We sat down with Diana Helander, the Group Product Marketing Manager for Gaming Solutions at Adobe to talk about how the updates are only part of how Adobe’s continuing to support game developers on all platforms.
The updates will likely be useful to developers looking to take their games cross-platform, both onto mobile devices and the web. These include more support for iOS (like push notifications and AIR direct deployment without iTunes), hardware-accelerated video and Stage 3D video card/webcam development. Developers will also find support for transparent images with Stage 3D, the ability to leverage hardware resources with concurrency and SWF size reductions.
In fact, the updates mark the continuation of Adobe’s plans to increase its presence in the game development sector and get Flash Player adopted on a wider scale. Helander explains that a big part of Adobe’s growing presence in the industry comes from its continued support of developer communities, something that it’s actively working to expand. Case in point: Adobe’s gaming team is appearing at both the Unity Unite conference in Amsterdam and CEDEC in Japan. At Unity Unite, Adobe will be showing off the Premium Features for Flash Player and showcasing Madfinger’s Shadowgun and Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (both of which were created using a Unity workflow). Meanwhile, GREE will be talking about how it developed Monpla Smash, the company’s first mobile social game built with Flash.
Although Adobe announced last November that it wouldn’t continue to invest in Flash Player for mobile platforms, the company’s been pushing its AIR packaging technology for mobile development while web application developers continue to use Flash technologies. Last week, Adobe said it would disable new installs of Flash Player on Android devices. However, Adobe’s been working to make sure Flash’s departure from mobile platforms doesn’t affect developers, since AIR creates a new path for Flash games to be delivered in the format they want for a mobile device. Some developers are even using the new technology to go back and release popular Flash games for mobile platforms, as was the case with Amanita Design’s Machinarium and State of Play’s Lume (which you can watch the trailer for below).
Adobe’s penetration isn’t dropping off, either. Flash Player 11.2 shipped four months ago with a silent auto update feature, which 400 million people have opted into. There are also approximately 25,000 AIR apps today on mobile markets, across iOS, Google Play and the Amazon Appstore.
For desktop-based gaming, though, Flash is still widely used in both social and casual games by developers like Zynga, GREE and Amazon. Helander says 24 of the top 25 Facebook games with more than 100,000 monthly active users and the highest user satisfaction scores are delivered with Flash. Likewise, Helander also tells us the top nine Flash games in China generate $70 million a month.
“Gaming is a holistic story,” Helander explains, “but Flash tends to dominate the conversation in terms of money being made and maturity.”
Game developers interested in using Adobe’s technology for their workflow can learn more here.


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CSDC a semi-finalist for provincial award
The Coast Salish Development Corporation (CSDC), which is the economic development agency of the Stz’uminus First Nation, has been named one of the Top 10 semi-finalists for the 12th annual Small Business BC Awards. CSDC is a semi-finalist for the award for Best Community Impact and is the only Vancouver Island business in the category.
CSDC was established in 2009 with the intention of bringing the Stz’uminus First Nation to a place of economic independence and self-sufficiency. In that short time, CSDC has, through reforming existing business operations and accessing new opportunities, earned in excess of $7 million for Stz’uminus, with projections for the next five years reaching upwards of $20 million, according to Small Business BC.
For the awards, British Columbians were asked to nominate and vote for their favourite small businesses from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30.
“This year was the biggest year yet for the competition, with over 460 nominations received from upwards of 70 communities across the province,” states a press release from Small Business BC.
Semi-finalists will now move forward to face a panel of judges, who will review their applications. The Top 5 finalists in each category will be announced on Jan. 30 and invited to give a Dragons’ Den-style pitch in front of a panel of judges on why they should be named the best in B.C.
The winners will be honoured and celebrated Feb. 26 in Vancouver.


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Kessler has announced the new KillShock Recon, a new RC buggy with an integrated modular isolator system designed for filmmakers. KillShock Recon is a 1/5th scale 4 wheel drive RC buggy with built-in isolator system for shooting chase, follow and side profiles. The KillShock Recon is perfect for shooting sports, vehicles, wildlife, music videos and more. … Continued
CP+ 2020, one of the largest trade shows for the photo and video industry, is no longer moving forward on February 27th over Coronavirus fears. Details and the official announcement from the organizers is below:
Japan reported their first death due to coronavirus on Thursday and the country currently has 28 confirmed cases of the rapidly spreading virus in total. According to the CDC, coronavirus is believed to spread by close person-to-person contact (within 6ft) through sneezes and coughs and that’s unfortunately a worse case scenario for a trade show like CP+ that receives about 70,000 visitors annually.
This is just another example of the widespread damage that coronavirus has already inflicted on the global economy. The CP+ 2020 cancellation also follows the cancellation of MWC in Barcelona just a few days ago.
Here is the initial press notification that went out regarding CP+:
Given there is no effective treatment or containment measures to deal
with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), organizers of CP+2020 have decided
to cancel the event due to overall concerns, mainly the risk to the health
and safety of visitors and exhibitors. The event was originally scheduled
to be held over 4 days at PACIFICO Yokohama from February 27.
The full public announcement from CP+ organizers is HERE.
Rokinon’s Xeen CF lenses were designed to make you 8K filmmakers happy, but this sale on the whole line should make you even happier.
Last fall, Rokinon announced its new Xeen CF lens line, which isn’t only lighter and more compact than the original Xeen glass but is ready and raring to handle 8K capture.
Featuring a carbon fiber design (hence the name “CF”), T1.5 aperture, luminous focus markings, 95mm standard front diameter, EF, E, and PL mount options, and an 11-blade aperture, these lenses are any modern filmmaker’s dream, but all of these bells and whistles come at a cost. All three focal lengths currently in the suite, the 24mm, 50mm, and 85mm, retail for $2495.
If that’s too rich for your blood, you’re in luck. Adorama is offering No Film School readers an exclusive promo code, NFCFXEEN, that will save you 20% on each lens in the Xeen CF suite. That means you only pay $2000!
CP+ 2020, one of the largest photography trade shows in the world has been canceled due to fears over the Coronavirus. The Diamond Princess cruise ship which is currently docked in Yokohama where CP+ was to be held has so far had 174 passengers diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. This latest cancellation comes on the … Continued
PetaPixel has learned that the CP+ 2020 expo in Japan—one of the largest photo industry trade shows in the world—has been cancelled due to fears over the recent coronavirus outbreak. An official announcement from the show is expected shortly. (UPDATE: Confirmed)
We were tipped off to the news earlier this evening when social media consultant and friend of the site Simon Pollock tweeted, “Very sorry to hear that CP+ has been cancelled. Damn you #CoronaVirus Damn you…”
Very sorry to hear that CP+ has been cancelled. Damn you #CoronoVirus Damn you…
We followed up with Pollock, who confirmed the news for us, though he asked that the original source be kept confidential.
As of this writing, CP+ hasn’t made the news official, though we’re keeping a close eye on their newsroom and Twitter account, and one is expected very shortly. The most recent Coronavirus update from the show was posted on February 5th, when the expo revealed that they were concerned, but moving forward.
“The CP + Secretariat strives to collect the latest information and is considering specific countermeasures. Also, strengthening coordination with the venues Pacifico Yokohama, Osanbashi Hall and related administrative organizations, and we will strive to respond appropriately,” reads the roughly translated statement. “At this stage, we are preparing for the event while paying close attention to the situation, and CP+ 2020 will be held.”
The statement, which you can find here, said that the show’s organizers were planning to put hand sanitizing stations at every entrance and exit, and “strongly recommends” that attendees wear a mask. It ends with a link to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, which states that Coronavirus “is not currently recognized as an epidemic in Japan.”
Unfortunately, the news that CP+ 2020 will not be happening is not surprising. With Japan’s proximity to the disease epicenter in China, and the precedent set by the cancellation of MWC 2020 just yesterday, many felt that it was only a matter of time before organizers pulled the plug on CP+ 2020.
We will update this article as soon as there is official confirmation that the show will not go on.
UPDATE: CP+ confirmed the news moments ago in a tweet that reads (Google Translated):
Notice of the cancellation of CP + 2020
As the prospects for effective remedies and countermeasures against the new coronavirus are uncertain, the health and safety aspects of the visitors are considered first, and as a result, the event will be held in Pacifico Yokohama for four days from February 27. We have decided to cancel the planned CP + 2020.
The tweet is linked to an official cancellation announcement, which you can read here. The rough translation reads:
Decision to cancel CP + (CP +) 2020
The Camera and Imaging Products Association of Japan (CIPA: Masaya Maeda)
Visitors and exhibitors amid uncertain prospects for effective treatments and remedies for coronavirus. As a result of putting the health and safety aspects of stakeholders first, we have decided to cancel CP + 2020, which was scheduled to be held in Ko-Yokohama.
With CP +, visitors can actually pick up the latest camera and related equipment and feel the operation. The biggest feature of this show is that it is a consumer-friendly show. At this time, it is not possible to eliminate the risk of infecting about 70,000 unspecified number of visitors.
The JRA considers it important to avoid such risks, and unfortunately, we have decided to cancel the event.
Thank you for your understanding.
Image credits: Header image created using photo by Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0
Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) has announced it’s canceling the CP+ 2020 trade show, citing concerns surrounding the Coronavirus.
In a post shared on its website, CIPA says the annual trade-show, which was supposed to take place from February 27th through March 1st in Yokohama, Japan, has been canceled ‘given there is no effective treatment or containment measures to deal with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).’
A screenshot of the note on the CP+ 2020 website.
Mobile World Conference (MWC), the world’s largest smartphone exhibition, was cancelled earlier this week, leaving many wondering if CP+ was next. As now evident, those concerns were valid.
According to CIPA’s website, CP+ drew in exhibitors from 120 countries and nearly 70,000 visitors last year. No further information has been given at this time and as of publishing this no manufacturers have commented on the cancellation. We will continue to update this story as more details are revealed.
How do you make a short film? By starting. Start by watching the following video: Often I hear advice like this: Pick a camera and shoot something. Anonymous armchair warrior The problem is, no one tells you what that “something” is. If you don’t know what you want to shoot, why should you even bother […]


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Schoolkid makes over £61,000 after learning how to trade on YouTube
To most of us, the share market can seem like a pretty daunting prospect. It’s almost like a mythical land that seems full of pitfalls, traps and shysters ready to steal your cash, but it turns out that Edward Ricketts, a 16-year-old little dude from Walthamstow in the Land of Pom is the kind of person we need to hold up as a shining example. Deadset, this little tucker has transformed a hundred and fifty Pommy pounds into f**ken thousands. Check this s**t out…
If you don’t know how much a Pommy pound is worth – and if you can’t Google it – that’s about 275 Ozzy dollarydoos being turned into over 111-thousand dollarydoos.
If you’re wondering how this little legend was able to generate that kind of cash, he had two things on his side.
Firstly, he had spite on his side.
Secondly, he let that spite take him to YouTube so it could drive his dedication!
That spite comes from the fact Ricketts hit up a foreign exchange expert on Instagram boasting of his high earnings, flash cars and designer clothes –presumably in a hip-hop video – and asked him for some tips and tricks. That dodgy bugger flipped off the little legend and told him that without formal training, he’d never amount to nothing.
From there, he thought, f**k that guy, and embarked on a self-study mission involving five hours of YouTube a day. Let’s be clear, though, he’s not just watching epic parkour fails, he’s studying how to make money by buying and selling global currencies online.
On top of that, he’s also been paying attention to global events. “I keep up with the news,” he said, “because it makes a massive difference. The pound is affected by Brexit and I’ve been taking advantage.”
As a result, not only has he filled his coffers, he’s also been offering his expertise to another 100 blokes and blokettes online for 155 quid a pop. Again – that’s about 280 dollarydoos!
Talk about proving a wanker wrong.
Final thought: Big props to this little fella. He plans to celebrate with a f**ken Mercedes and we reckon that’s a bloody tops idea. Good on ya, Edward. You’re a bloody top bloke!
Just in case you missed it, here’s one of Ozzy’s latest commentary videos…Ozzy Man Reviews: Hobbs and Shaw Trailer
H/T: DAILY MAIL.


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A study released November 15, 2000 at a meeting of the American College of Rheumatology showed that the popular dietary supplement glucosamine sulfate appears to slow the progression of osteoarthritis.
Several earlier studies have shown that glucosamine reduces the pain of osteoarthritis, but a new study published in
The Lancet medical journal is the first to show that the supplement actually improves the structure of the joints. The double-blind Belgium study, evaluated 212 people over 50 with osteoarthritis over a three year period. One- half of the participants were treated with 1500 mg of glucosamine sulfate daily while the other half received a placebo. Researchers found that those taking the placebo experienced a worsening of symptoms including deterioration of joint cartilage and narrowing of joint space. Those taking the glucosamine supplement, showed no joint space narrowing, their cartilage remained stable, and other symptoms, such as pain and joint function, improved.
“For the first time, we have shown that a compound may be able at least to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis," said Dr. Jean-Yves Reginster of the University of Liege in Belgium.
The researchers in the study used pure glucosamine sulfate. Because quality and purity of glucosamine supplements vary, it is important to choose a reputable brand when supplementing with this product.


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Allegations hit phone-ins.
The 20% decline for March and April came after the television industry was rocked by a series of allegations relating to the apparent duping of viewers.
ITV said all its current output had been cleared by an independent review, but warned it was unclear when consumer confidence would return. The broadcaster said revenues from ITV Play, which runs during the night on ITV1 and ITV2, were running at a significant reduction from 2006.
It added: "Other premium rate telephone services revenue is down by approximately 20% in March and April and concerns remain about when consumer confidence in this area will be restored."
ITV said it had strengthened its procedures to comply with or exceed the provisions issued by premium rate telephone regulator ICSTIS.
|Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback|
|Title Annotation:||Business Local|
|Publication:||Evening Gazette (Middlesbrough, England)|
|Date:||May 17, 2007|
|Previous Article:||CarShock in finance probe.|
|Next Article:||BT on top as leading broadband provider.|


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After spending several months out of service in Europe, the former Costa Mediterranea returned to Asia earlier this month.
Set to debut for Adora Cruises in the fourth quarter, the 2003-built vessel is currently undergoing a refit in Singapore. Being prepared to serve the Chinese market starting this fall, the cruise ship entered the drydock of the Tuas Shipyard on August 15.
In addition to regular maintenance and class surveys, the Mediterranea is expected to be upgraded for Adora, receiving new features and also a new livery.
According to the company, the new ship’s new color scheme was created to blend the Mediterranean’s iconic blue, green, and white tones, recreating the “elegant and artistic temperament” of the European inner sea.
In addition to the unique livery, the 2,100-guest vessel will also offer a new onboard experience tailored to the Chinese market, Adora Cruises added.
Originally built for Costa Cruises, the 86,000-ton vessel first entered service in 2003. After nearly 20 years serving the Italian brand, the vessel was sold to CSSC Carnival – which later became Adora Cruises – in 2021.
Sharing the design of Carnival Cruise Line’s Spirit Class, the vessel features themed interiors that pay homage to Italy’s palaces and castles.
Designed by the hospitality architect Joe Farcus, the public areas include three pool decks, a multi-story atrium, a selection of dining venues and several bars and lounges.
Following the Mediterranea, the Adora Magic City is also scheduled to start service for Adora Cruises later this year. In final stages of construction, the China-built vessel will offer short cruises from Shanghai.
A joint venture between Carnival Corporation and the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Adora Cruises also operated the Costa Atlantica. Currently laid-up in Italy, the 2000-built vessel is a sister to the former Costa Mediterranea.


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We have heard of Apple killing support for 32-bit apps lately. For iOS device users, that means any legacy apps that haven't been updated to include 64-bit support will stop working after they update to iOS 11. The rumor of the iPhone 5 getting scrapped is already doing the rounds. All these efforts are part of Apple's plans to remove "problematic and abandoned apps" from the store.
Players can go where you want, when you want, and with who you want in the Elder Scrolls Online and build your hero however you see fit. That means you can saunter through the entirety of Tamriel for free in Bethesda's MMO from 3PM BST on April 11 for one week up until April 18.
Nokia phones might be making a comeback in a partnership with HMD Global, but the Finnish company is also investing heavily in networks and communications across the world, particularly 5G technology. Amit Marwah, head, End-to-End Sales Solutioning, India Market at Nokia, told ET 3.5 GHz has been globally adopted so far for the first set of 5G. The partnerships will look at creating a strategy and clear path for the evolution of 5G in India, and the efforts will build on the current 4G networks.
Welcome to the world little star, Mommy loves you". Jameson first announced the baby news last August and told People magazine then that she and Bitton are "over the moon" about adding to their family. She shared her story in the 2003 autobiography "How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale". "But remember, your generosity isn't why I love you, you're the kind of man that I KNOW I can count on, and THAT is worth more than anything".
In March of 2015, Alonso was traded from the Bills to the Eagles in exchange for McCoy. McCoy got wind of the photo and wrote two comments to Alonso. Alonso, on the other hand, lasted only one season with the Eagles. Miami rewarded the linebacker's play with a four-year, $28.91 million contract. His five-year, $45 million pact was actually signed in 2012 and not 2011, but I think McCoy's point here is more about the salary than the timing anyway.
You can check out the debut trailer for Ultimate Ninja Storm Legacy below, which will give you an idea of what's all in the package and, more importantly, how it'll look. That's right. Some. Not all of the downloadable content from the standalone titles will be included in the trilogy but it hasn't been revealed what content exactly will be getting the axe.
Ford says it has a 63-percent share of the market for police vehicles in the US and suggests that police departments could save nearly $3,900 a year in fuel costs with its hybrid pursuit vehicle. "We expect them to not only be economically and environmentally efficient, but also an effective tool for fighting crime in major metropolitan areas".
The idea is to allow community creations to be sold within the game itself. Noxcrew , BlockWorks , Qwertyuiop The Pie , Blockception , Sphax , Eneija Silverleaf, Imagiverse , Polymaps and Razzleberry Fox are the folk on board at launch, but we're opening up submissions to anyone with a registered business.
Microsoft's Paul Thurrott revealed in his tweet that the company won't stop building the Surface series and will also stick with the patented Surface power connector. Microsoft may yet choose to include a USB-C port with the Surface Pro 5, as many devices running Windows 10, as well as a number of leading mobile devices, utilise the technology.
Samsung said in its earnings guidance that it expects revenue will remain flat at around 50 trillion won for the quarter from 49.78 trillion won in the same quarter a year ago. Samsung already knows the fingerprint reader at the back of the S8 is a mistake for it sits too close to the camera lens. The most important change, however, is that the original 3,500 mAh battery - the source of the Note 7's tendency to burst into flames - has been replaced with a 3,200 mAh version.
Last month, Samsung introduced its personal assistant Bixby to compete with Apple's Siri and Google Assistant. The person who snapped the image placed an S Pen stylus to the right of the handset. It is reported that Samsung is setting a target of selling 58 million units of Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphones from the date of launch until December, which is 8 million units higher than the internally estimated sales volume of about 50 million units.
This particular smartphone is set to come with premium specifications and will compete with devices falling in the high-end category. Some of the features of the highly anticipated Nokia 9 have also been leaked, which includes a 5.5-inch screen with QHD resolution of 2560*1440 pixels.
The hybrids won't be as fast as the Taurus with a 3.7-Liter turbocharged V6, but Ford expects it to be quick enough to earn a pursuit rating when tested later this year by the Michigan State Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the first hybrid to earn that honor.
Microsoft Office users should be careful of this zero-day exploit targeting Word documents by attaching a malicious document on their emails. On execution, a malicious.hta file is fetched from a command server and run on the machine in question.
Manchester United effectively confirmed Sunderland's relegation from the English Premier League on Sunday, beating the struggling club 3-0 to leave the Black Cats rooted at the bottom of the table. "The Premier League we cannot win, but Europa League we can". The visitors compounded that setback seconds after half-time when Mkhitaryan fired the second through the legs of Lamine Kone and low across goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Dodge's forthcoming halo vehicle, the Challenger SRT Demon, will have expensive taste. The SRT Demon looks the part and comes with wider wheel arches, aggressive and effect aero upgrades and a massive hoodscoop. All these indicate that the Challenger SRT Demon will have a blisteringly fast straight-line performance figures ever seen. This will enable the supercharger HEMI engine to extract the maximum power form the available knock resistance high octane fuel .
After their launch of OnePlus 3T, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer will be launching OnePlus 5. In short, the upcoming OnePlus 3T successor will still be another flagship killer, just like it has always been the case with other OnePlus phones.
Comey's statement about investigating her emails shortly before Election Day and misogyny. "I hope this administration will move forward in a way that is both strategic and consistent with our values", Clinton said in a speech at the Annie's List luncheon, as Time reported.
Wearing the same vibrant red as the Arrows, the Vanquish S also wears white and blue carbon livery with white highlights detailing the white smoke trail left by the jets on the side skirt. Various other ornaments and parts have been arranged to a link to aeronautics and the nine-aircraft formation known as the Red Arrows. The rear seats are also gone and have replaced with a stowage area for two crash helmets with Red Arrow motifs, along with race suits and bespoke bomber jackets.
LG Display declined to comment, while Google could not be immediately reached for comment. Apple has reportedly ordered 70 million bendable OLED displays from the South Korean tech giant, which will be used on the iPhone 8. LG Display has so far not commented on the report. We have come across multiple leaks hinting at what Google's next flagship smartphones could bring to the table.
The company released advertisements in the newspapers after the TRAI order saying it will close the subscriptions after it is operationally feasible for the operator. The regulator has declared that the offer does not fit with India's regulatory framework covering promotions, which places limits on the duration that discounts can be offered.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday delivered a letter to Congress outlining the justification for his ordering of a missile strike on Syria this week, writing that the United States would take further action in Syria "as necessary and appropriate".
Online privacy has always been a subject of debate as to where the line is drawn and what ISPs can collect from their consumers. The Federal Communications Commission rule, issued during the final months of the Obama administration, was created to give consumers greater control over how internet service providers share information.
YouTube TV, the new live-streaming TV package from Google, launched this week in five cities, and early subscribers get two nifty bonuses for signing up: You can try out the service for one month for free, and then a free Chromecast device for streaming online content on TVs if you decide to keep subscribing.
The Electronic Publishingmarket analysis is provided for the global market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions' development status. This report also focuses on the sales (consumption), production, import and export of Digoxin in global market , forecast to 2021, from 2016. The statistical study helps give a rough idea regarding the regional industrial growth and the revenue earned generated through the growth and development of the market.
However, channels and services from AMC Networks will be joining the YouTube TV mix, as the new service will soon add AMC, BBC America, IFC, Sundance TV, We TV and BBC World to the $ 35 per month base package. The mobile app for YouTube TV , which is separate from the YouTube app, is available for both iOS and Android devices. As part of the service's launch, Google is offering a free Chromecast to YouTube TV members, if they pay the first month's subscription after the 30-day free ...
Those who are serious about tuning in to watch April the Giraffe give birth on the Animal Adventure Park live cam can now sign up for text alerts that will let them know exactly when to turn their computers on. April will raise her calf naturally, and weaning could take between 6-10 months, maybe longer. Then why is the feed up if we're not sure when the calf is coming? "Despite ongoing conservation efforts, the species is really struggling to bounce back", the zoo wrote on ...
On Lap 3, it all went awry for Marquez - as he slipped from his bike and crashed out of the race, handing the race lead to Maverick Vinales. Marquez started the race on pole for the third time in four years and made a clean start ahead of Karel Abraham and Cal Crutchlow.
Manchester United kept their hopes of a Premier League top-four finish alive with a routine 3-0 win over 10-man Sunderland on Sunday. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford scored for Red Devils as they won 3-0 at Stadium of Lights.
The S8 is also crucial for Samsung's image as a maker of reliable mobile devices. Two colours will hit Britain, "Midnight Black" and "Orchid Grey", and Samsung is still decided whether to launch a third colour, "Arctic Silver". Samsung kept the "edgeless" concept you know and love from the Galaxy S8's recent predecessors, but improvements have been made to make way for the attractive Infinity Display.
At launch in India Google is offering a "discounted subscription offer" of Rs89 a month, approximately £1.10, after which the subscription rate with be Rs99 rupees, or £1.23, which is in line with the India-based streaming set-ups but a little cheaper than Apple Music.
Period." Verizon similarly says it doesn't plan to sell browsing histories; it does have two programs using the data, one with "de-identified" info for marketers and the other for aggregate insights for advertisers. Nearly each and every single site in the world collects and sell customer browsing history for advertisement purposes. Republican FCC commissioners also seem happy with the repeal as they said that the Obama rules would have given an unfair ability to websites to harvest more ...
A 3D printed sacrificial tool for a carbon fiber brake cooling duct using ST-130 soluble material. McLaren has also introduced 3D printed composite brake cooling ducts to control brake component temperatures. Initially the main part to be produced will be the oil pump that sits inside the gearbox of the 2017 McLaren-Honda auto (the MCL32 F1 car). McLaren Applied Technologies develops strategic business partnerships that harness our expertise in high-performance design, ...
The rollout is limited for the time being to five metropolitan areas: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Philadelphia. The $35 subscription bundles together roughly 40 channels, including live-streaming of all the broadcast networks and the big ESPN and Fox sports networks, plus unlimited cloud DVR storage.
Revenue for the quarter likely rose 9.7 percent to 14.7 trillion won, the firm said . The discontinuation of the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 smartphone in October past year weakened Samsung's mobile phone business in recent months, but the company seemed to have overcome the debacle.
More networks will be added to YouTube TV at no extra cost, including AMC, BBC America, IFC, Sundance TV, WE TV and BBC World News, as per the company. But YouTube Red, which offers ad-free viewing and access to those same originals, remains a separate product. The membership has free access to YouTube Red's original series and movies.
Meeke took control early on the first Asphalt round of the season, winning the opening stage before adding two more stage wins before the end of the day. Hayden Paddon is sixth and now using the event as an extended test session, aiming to continue learning on this surface. Saturday's mid-leg leaderboard might still show Kris Meeke as the current frontrunner of the Tour de Corse, but the Citroen driver was forced to retire after today's second stage with engine failure.
The announcement of the Xbox Project Scorpio and its expected release later this year leaves gamers with the decision of whether or not to wait for it to be released in this year's holiday season before buying a new video game console. In contrast, the eight cores in Sony's PS4 Pro run at 2.1Ghz while the Xbox One's run at 1.75GHz. Eurogamer sister site Digital Foundry did the honours of revealing all the nitty gritty details having been given a first-hand look at the Scorpio console.
Although the company did not detail income by segment in its guidance , industry experts believe the stellar first-quarter performance was largely driven by a boon in memory chip business. Prosecutors blamed close ties between the government and big business for the scandal that toppled Park and has implicated dozens of other people at a number of chaebol, or big business conglomerates.
The $35-per-month service is available in New York, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago and Philadelphia to start with. Support for more USA markets and connected devices will arrive later this year. Now, YouTube's core audience of cord-cutting millennials who can't afford pricey cable packages can now see all of the shows they've been missing, because YouTube TV is now available in a handful of cities around the country.
Other networks such as AMC, BBC America, IFC, Sundance TV, WE tv and BBC World News will be added soon. But Google is working to add channels in the coming weeks and months. YouTube TV enters a crowded marketing for streaming TV services created to entice people who don't want to pay a cable company to watch their favorite shows.
A big selling point for YouTube TV is its digital video recorder function, offering users unlimited cloud storage and the ability to save recordings for nine months. After years of slogging through pages and pages of boring online text-based program guides looking for something-anything-to watch, YouTube's guide is, like the video network, very visual, contemporary and inviting.
The Apple rival and global memory chip leader said first-quarter operating profit was likely 9.9 trillion won ($8.8 billion), compared with an average forecast of 9.4 trillion won from a Thomson Reuters survey of 18 analysts. Lee's lawyer flatly denied the charges. According to the latest statistical data, LG's operating profit is estimated at 922 billion won, which is equal to around $812 million (via The Korea Herald ).
WBBM's Steve Miller asked one protester: Wasn't it Syrian President Assad who killed the kids? Meanwhile, a Russian warship is headed toward the two U.S. But she's also upset over yet more destruction. While threatening further strikes, the United States envoy also said it was time to press on with a political solution to the six-year war.
Bixby AI assistant was unveiled in NY on Wednesday. Samsung said this feature permits users to better enjoy video and gaming content. The Samsung Galaxy S8 has been launched, and it met every single expectation that the smartphone community had about the device.
The company also estimates first-quarter Consolidated Sales of about 50 trillion won compared to 49.78 trillion won past year. An issue that caused Samsung's own Vice Chairman Jay Y. The results also underscore how the electronics conglomerate is recovering from last year's Note 7 crisis, when some smartphones burst into flames and forced Samsung to pull it from shelves.
Both the smartphones are featuring 4GB RAM and runs on Android 7.0 Nougat with a redesigned TouchWiz skin. These features become even more convenient with Samsung Pass, a mobile password management system built into the Samsung Internet Browser, which will use biometric authentication to automatically fill out usernames and passwords when users log into certain apps or websites .
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said misogyny "certainly" played a role in her US presidential election defeat by Republican rival Donald Trump. "Some people - women included - had real problems with the idea of a woman president", she added. Clinton attributed her White House loss to both Wikileaks and FBI Director James Comey's sending a bombshell letter to Congress only days before the election announcing he was reinstating an investigation into her emails.
Samsung earned its highest quarterly operating profit of 10.16 trillion won in the third quarter of 2013 thanks to robust smartphone and chip sales. Samsung's sales over the cited period edged up 0.44 percent to 50 trillion won, the data also showed.
The victory of Vettel and Ferrari comes after a year of Mercedes dominance, who won 19 out of 21 races in 2016. It was also a major fillip for the fledgling season and the new generation of quicker cars after Ferrari's superior pre-season test times, as they chase their first world constructors' title since 2008.


text:
Intel versus AMD is one of the tech world’s longest running rivalries, and it came to head in 2005 with AMD taking Intel to court
, alleging that Intel has been involved in vigorous and vicious anti-competitive practices.
Today the two chip companies announced
an out-of-court settlement to this case and all other outstanding legal issues existing between them.
They issued a joint statement saying: "while the relationship between the two companies has been difficult in the past, this agreement ends the legal disputes and enables the companies to focus all of our efforts on product innovation and development."
As well as clearing up their legal disputes, the two companies will enter into a new five year long cross license agreement, sharing technology with each other. Intel will also pay AMD $1.25 billion, and has “agreed to abide by a set of business practice provisions.”
On his blog, Nigel Dessau, AMD's Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer lists these provisions
. They include [not] "offering inducements to customers in exchange for their agreement to limit or delay their purchase of microprocessors from AMD."
In return, AMD is dropping its court cases in the US and Japan, and also agrees to “withdraw all of its regulatory complaints worldwide”
– these being the complaints that spurred various regulatory bodies to investigate Intel and in many cases, impose significant fines.
Considering the EU fined Intel $1.45 billion
and that the State of New York recently filed suit against Intel for its hostility to AMD, $1.25 billion to call it quits and to share technology sounds like a good deal. Glad the fight is over? Or do you think AMD should have had its day in court? Let us know your thoughts in the forum.


text:
JERUSALEM (Apr. 26)
The Israel Government announced officially today that import licenses will be abolished on June 1 for products which accounted for one-fourth of all Israeli imports during 1961. It was also announced that the Ministry of Commerce was preparing another list to free, in the near future, an additional 25 percent of imports now requiring licenses.
The import commodities to be made license-free on June 1, which last year totalled some $120, 000, 000 in value, are those which do not compete with local manufacture. They include foods, chemicals, timber, metals, machinery, quarry products and transport equipment.
Wheat, sugar and soya beans, hitherto imported by the Government, will also be placed on the free list but they will remain subject to some regulations to assure adequate quantities of imports to keep down shipping costs. In the case of sugar, dealers must buy 40 percent of their orders from local manufacturers. Tea and medical imports must comply with health and packing regulations but otherwise will not require licenses.
Simultaneously with the liberalization, the Commerce Ministry plans to lower tariffs progressively to expose Israeli manufacturers to the competition of imports. It was indicated that Israeli firms unable to meet competition without the benefit of protective tariffs will have no option but to liquidate in line with the Ministry’s plans to normalize the Israeli economy.
Officials commented that some Israeli enterprises were able, thanks to the absence of competing imports, to produce at a nine to 15-pound per dollar ratio. If they hope to remain in business hereafter, it was indicated, they will have to trim casts by greater efficiency.


text:
Tesla delivers first production semis to Pepsi
In November 2017, Tesla announced that it was joining the trucking industry. Debuting its new semi truck concept then, over the last five years, Tesla has worked to bring the concept to life. Originally slated to go into production in 2019, numerous delays have pushed the debut back. Now, it finally has.
Pepsi first placed their order for their Tesla semis back in 2017, when they were first debuted. In fact, Pepsi was one of the first companies to support the Tesla semi and commit to it. Now, they are finally getting their hands on it.
Not only that, but it’s even done a cargo run already! The Tesla semi was used to ship a load of Frito-Lay chips to the Tesla semi unveiling event earlier this month.
Elon Musk has said he wants the Tesla semi on the road to help fight global greenhouse gas emissions. This is laudable. But it’s also Elon Musk. So let’s talk about Tesla’s semi truck and what it means for trucking moving forward, as well as what it might mean for auto transporters as we delve deeper into the 21st century.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 6, 2022
Recapping the Tesla Semi
The Tesla semi, when first introduced by Elon Musk, was said to have a 500 mile range. In 2017 this was an impressive feat, considering where electric vehicle technology was. Of course, Musk then said a bit later that it could go up to 600 miles on a single charge.
But then, in late November 2022, Musk tweeted out that the Tesla semi had completed a 500 mile trip with a semi grossing 81,000 pounds on a single charge. If that tweet is true, Tesla has a real game-changer on their hands.
Not only did Musk say the semi could get 500 miles on a charge, but it also uses “less than” 2kwh of battery power per mile. This puts Tesla’s semi on par with the Volvo VNR Electric and the Freightliner eCascadia, and lower than both Peterbilt and Kenworth’s electric semis.
The Tesla semi has also been tested in numerous conditions – “every type of environment” according to Musk. This includes grades as high as 6%, such as Donner Pass, though this road is not used by as many trucks as I-80 which goes through Donner Summit in the Sierra Nevadas.
Regardless, the Tesla semi – if these claims and numbers are true – is situating itself to be one of the main competitors for other, more established truck builders such as Peterbilt.
More specs about the Tesla semi
Musk has come out with some of the specs for the Tesla semi as well, but little is truly confirmed. He has said that the trucks are running 24/7 between Sparks and Tahoe, Nevada, moving goods between plants and suppliers.
He has also said that the semi uses a tri-motor powertrain system. They are taken from the Model S and the Model X powertrains, but the semi allows two of the power units to disconnect. This means that they will not be free-spinning while the truck is traveling at full power. The other units would be used for reserve power, primarily for torque and acceleration.
According to Musk, the semi can pull 82,000 pounds at cruising speed using just one motor on one axle. This would make it much more powerful than a regular diesel semi truck. The semi also boasts regenerative braking that will deliver energy back into the batteries.
Musk did not answer questions about price point, available configurations, customizability, Tesla’s autopilot system, or how long charging would take.
What do trucking companies think of the Tesla semi?
As of now, it’s highly unlikely that the Tesla semi is going to displace much of the market share enjoyed by other manufacturers. While the semi has been delivered to PepsiCo, marking its official foray into the trucking sphere, Tesla has a long way to go before it’s the king of the road.
But it’s not inconceivable, either. Tesla vehicles are quite popular with the American people, after all. A big question truckers have is how long it will take to charge the batteries.
Right now, the semi is supposed to get 500 miles on a single charge. Tesla has supposedly proven that, so we’ll jot that down as true. But how long will it take to recover that mileage and get back on the road?
Tesla’s website says the semi can recover up to 70% of its range after charging just 30 minutes. That’s impressive if it’s true. Most over-the-road truck drivers can travel 400-500 miles per day. This means that they could stop for the night, recharge, and not have to worry about refueling until they stop at their next truck stop.
Is the infrastructure for the Tesla semi there?
A big question is the charging infrastructure available right now. There are a lot of electric car charging stations out there, but not as many as one would think. And it’s not like semi trucks can pull up to a charging station outside a grocery store to refuel.
These semi trucks are as big as any others on the road. So they’ll need to refuel at stations that can accommodate their large size. Many truck stops, such as Pilot Flying J, are working on getting electric charging infrastructure in place, but the rollout has been slow.
Truckers adapt to change slowly over time, so this isn’t surprising. Now that the semi is out on the road, though, it may be time for truck stop owners to start adding electric charging stations en masse in order to meet the incoming demand. But until those are there, truckers may shy away from all-electric trucks, fearing they will be unable to refuel on their preferred routes.
That said, though, if there are enough places for them to refuel – and they don’t take them far off their established routes – it’s possible that trucking companies start making the switch.
What about the price of the Tesla semi?
This is another tricky hurdle that Tesla has to overcome if they want to see their trucks moving freight to American stores. In 2017, Elon Musk came out and said the Tesla semi would cost about $200,000 – a bit steep, but still within many trucking companies’ budgets.
Now, though, five years later, who knows what the price will be? Musk has been mum on the subject as of late, so we’re unsure what the price point will be. We also do not know what features will be included and what packages are available (or what they’ll cost).
Between the uncertainty of charging infrastructure and the uncertainty of the total cost of a semi, trucking companies aren’t chomping at the bit as much as one might think. This isn’t too surprising; they want to wait and see if it’ll be economically feasible for them to start running Tesla semis instead of traditional diesel trucks.
Tesla claims owners can save up to $200,000 over three years just on refueling costs. That’s a lot of money. Is it true, though? Until we have more data, we’re not sure, but it is feasible.
Is this the future of auto transport?
Let’s talk about Tesla’s semi and how it might affect the auto shipping industry. Auto transport is just like any other trucking industry in the problems that it faces and the challenges it must overcome.
They have to pay for fuel, truck maintenance, employee wages, taxes, all that good stuff, just like any other trucking company. They have to compete for jobs and bid on contracts just like any other. So it stands to reason that, if an auto shipper can save money, they’ll save money.
Could the Tesla semi be the future of auto transport? It’s possible. If not the Tesla itself, then at least electric trucks will be.
At this point, moving away from diesel as we know it is inevitable. There are a number of options that have been bandied about for decades now, including biodiesel, hydrogen, electric, and more. As it stands now, electric vehicles have taken over as the alternative energy vehicle of choice. And it likely will stay that way as the years drag on.
Auto transporters have a lot of benefits ahead of them if they switch to all-electric trucks. Fuel savings are the number one, of course. A range of 500 miles on an electric truck is enticing as well. Being able to charge up overnight (or during the day, if they do night runs) and not having to stop while they’re driving is big.
The price, however, may stop some of the smaller companies from implementing them. That’s an issue that will resolve itself with time, however.
This writer believes that all-electric trucks are indeed the future of the auto shipping industry and for trucking in general. The change will be slow, but you can expect to see more cars being hauled by all-electric trucks in the next few years.